Index

This old established Church seeks financial assistance in buying some Church
needed property to allow us to grow. We seek a new Cathedral Church and some
property for a Monastc community as well as grounds for a cemetery. A Benefactor
could greatly help is to continue our ministry in a true Othodox manner.

Under the Omophorionof

Patriarch Nikon

Due to the continued attacks on the members of the first Synod of the
Church, the lack of Christian compassion and love for their fellow man by those
older established orthodox jurisdictions who decided they did not want to
recognize the canonically established Church in the New World and did want to
profit from the wealth found in America the Patriarch has issued the following
Declaration;

On Feb. 2nd, 1927 our Mother Church was established by the Russian Orthodox
Synod of Bishops in North America (Moscow Patriarchate) as an Autonomous and
Autocephalous Church. The reasons were clear that an independent American
jurisdicion was needed to be the Anchor of Orthodoxy in the New World. Instead
of accepting the American Church the old world ethnic jurisdictions, following
the lead of the Ecumenical Patriarch, created a Schism in American Orthodoxy
thus separating themselves from the Body of Christ and the Sacred and Divine
Canons. They remain in Schism today.

Archbishop Ofiesh of the Syrian Mission who was a member of the Russian
Orthodox Synod was appointed to head this new Churh. This new Church was
established due to the turmoil in Russia.

In 1933 Archbishop Ofiesh stated publicly in the newspapers that "God told
me to Marry" and he did. This upset many clergy from the various Orthodox
jurisdictions. They Orthodox Synods failed to demand he appear at a Tribunal so
his marriage was in fact the start of a new Orthodox tradition - Married Bishops
- which was allowed in the early Church. Since no Tribunal was ever called no
Orthodox Synod could depose or excommunicate Abp. Ofiesh canonically and no one
bishop could canonically remove another bishop.

Some members of the independent movement have claimed that Bp. Sophronius
removed Abp. Ofiesh as well as Bp. Ignatius from the Synod but that could not
legally and canonically be done.

Some also claim that Afimios retired and turned the Church leadership over to
Bp. Sophronius but there are no records of this. Bp. Sophronius came East to
assist the Archbishop who placed himself in a semi-retired position while
awaiting a Tribunal - which never came about.

Records are somewhat confusing at some points. Some claim Sophronius died in
1934, which is mentioned in the Biography written by Marion Ofiesh. Others claim
he died in 1940 and some will claim he was consecrator of Christopher
Contogeorge. The document we saw for Contogeorge's consecration was on the
Letterhead of Theophan Noli and bears the signature of (a) Sophronius which
could indicate a co-consecrator or a witness. What is plain is that only 2
bishops were party to this ordination contrary to the canons of the Orthodox
Church. We could find no proof showing a Mandate was issued by this Synod for
this Ordination either.

The Church has received a letter from a Roman Catholic diocese that our
clergy may offer communion within our liturgy to Catholics and our clergy have
been asked to concelebrate the liturgy with Roman Catholic clergy. Other
documents are also in our archives showing Catholic recognition.

The Synod has attempted to establish communication with other traditional
Orthodox Churches. We have acted to end non-traditional activities within the
Church such as the varied liturgies previously used. Under our present
leadership the Synod has approved the use of the Western Rite St. Andrew Service
Book of the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese. This is the only canonically
approved Western Rite for use in the USA at this time. The ROCOR rite is also
being considered. We use the Byzantine Uniate Eastern Liturgy also.

Due to the unchristian actions of clergy of the OCA and Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Archdiocese we have no interest in any communication with the ethnic
or scoba jurisdictions who violate the canons and attempt to usurp our authority
and who continue to attack our first Synod members, who have been dead for over
40 years, in an attempt to put us down as not being canonical or who we are so
they can claim they are the American Church, which is a lie!

We seek former Catholic and Orthodox seminary students and clergy, as well as
other qualified individuals for Holy Orders.

If you have any questions about anyone claiming to be a member or clergyman
of this Church do not hesitate to e-mail us at the address at the bottom of this
page.